Teddy Santis' Debut New Balance MADE in USA Collection Oversees This Week's Best Footwear Drops
KCDC’s Nike SB Dunk High collab, Bodega’s ASICS GEL-MC PLUS and more are also launching
Despite the fact that April 2022 is dwindling down to its final days, sportswear brands such as Nike, Jordan Brand and New Balance are making it a point to close out the month with an impressive lineup of new releases. A ton of major news sprung up in the world of footwear last week, so let’s break those down for you first.
In terms of exclusives, our Sole Mates series added another feature to its catalog, this time with Ron Khy — marketing director of BAIT — about his connection to the ever-comfy Crocs Classic Clog. On the news front, Nike managed to generate some striking headlines last week. Detailed looks of the forthcoming sacai x Nike Cortez surfaced, along with a first glimpse of the Hello Kitty x Nike Air Presto and Nike Spark Flyknit 1. In addition, Nike and RTFKT’s inaugural digital sneakers were officially unveiled. Jordan Brand came out a made statement last week as well with the reveal of Luka Dončić’s Jordan Luka 1, the CLOT x Air Jordan 5 Low and a closer look at the Nina Chanel Abney x Air Jordan 2 SE.
Some exciting products from the adidas camp were also brought to light last week such as its collaboration with Kawasaki, the RIMOWA x adidas NMD S1 and Pharrell’s second adidas Hu NMD S1 RYAT colorway. The brand also launched a new OZWORLD footwear and metaverse experience. Elsewhere in the footwear space, The Basement and New Balance cooked up an “Earth Brown” 2002R colorway, Comme des Garçons and Salomon linked up for a collaborative capsule and Packer announced its “White/Silver” Reebok Answer IV collaboration.
All caught up? Perfect. Dive into this week’s top 10 releases here below and don’t forget to peep the HBX online store for more footwear styles.
Nike Air Force 1 Mid “Independence Day”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: April 28
Release Price: $140 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Air Force 1 Mids are getting plenty of moments to shine in 2022, and one iteration from Nike’s 1997 archives that will be returning to the shelves is the classic “Independence Day” colorway. The kicks return with their OG elements such as the glossy overlays and jeweled Swooshes, the former of which is dyed in “Midnight Navy” while the latter is submerged in “University Red.”
Nike Air Force 1 Mid “Ale Brown”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: April 28
Release Price: $140 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: An anniversary celebration for a shoe as iconic as the Air Force 1 deserves a substantial amount of love, and so Nike is fashioning several fresh colorways for its fans this month. Before the month of April ends, the Swoosh is making room for the Air Force 1 Mid “Ale Brown.” The titular shade pours over the glossy overlays while “Total Orange” pops show face on the jeweled Swooshes, and various branded hits which call out OG Nike shoe boxes.
Air Jordan 11 Low “Pure Violet”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: April 28
Release Price: $190 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: The Spring and Summer seasons are usually when Jordan Brand tends to bust out various Air Jordan 11 Low colorways, and this week we’re going to see the official launch of the Air Jordan 11 Low “Pure Violet.” Uppers are predominantly done up in white and sit adjacent to the glossy mudguards that are dyed in its titular shade.
New Balance Made in USA 990, 990v2 and 990v3 by Teddy Santis
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
Release Date: April 28
Release Price: $190-200 USD
Where to Buy: New Balance and Bodega
Why You Should Cop: Teddy Santis — founder of streetwear label Aimé Leon Dore — is finally ready to release his first collection as a creative director of New Balance. This first batch of products includes a trio of clean-cut “Marblehead/Incense” colorways of the 990, 990v2 and 990v3 silhouettes along with matching apparel pieces.
Air Jordan 13 “Brave Blue”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: April 29
Release Price: $200 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: In 1998, Jordan Brand released an Air Jordan 13 Low colorway with navy blue uppers and black mudguards, and now it’s set to recreate that iteration but in the form of a mid-top. Pockmarked base layers come readied with a “Navy” paint job and come complemented with a dash of “University Blue” atop the tongue’s Jumpman logos and stealthy accents across the midsoles and heels.
Bodega x ASICS GEL-MC PLUS
Bodega
Bodega
Bodega
Release Date: April 29
Release Price: $150 USD
Where to Buy: Bodega
Why You Should Cop: Bodega is staying active on its collaborations front this season, and next up on its agenda is a brand new ASICS GEL-MC PLUS team-up. The Boston-based stalwart wanted to produce a shoe that’s reflective of the seasonal shift, and they achieved that here by integrating vivid accents of blue to represent blue skies, teal green to portray green grass and pale yellow to speak to warm weather.
Salehe Bembury x New Balance 574 YURT
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
Release Date: April 29
Release Price: $150 USD
Where to Buy: New Balance
Why You Should Cop: Salehe Bembury continues to impress the world with his forward-thinking design mentality, and this week the talented designer is bringing about a duo of more New Balance 574 YURT colorways. One falls on the darker side of the spectrum as it’s done up with grayscale uppers and purple and blue bottoms while the other is mostly backdropped in white and is paired next to vivid purple and pink accents.
KCDC x Nike SB Dunk High
Kcdc
Kcdc
Release Date: April 29 (KCDC) April 30 (skate shops)
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: KCDC
Why You Should Cop: Nike SB has a penchant of teaming up with various skate retailers throughout the year, and now it’s turning to New York City’s very own KCDC for a brand new Dunk High collaboration. The shoes celebrate 20 years of business, as well as the future of what’s to come. The female-helmed shop decorates the upper with an “Elemental Pink/Black” color scheme and integrates KCDC-branded lace options, brass eyelets and clear gum outsoles.
Nike Doernbecher Freestyle Collection 2022
Nike
Release Date: April 30
Release Price: $85-$200 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: After being officially unveiled towards the end of February, Nike’s 2022 Doernbecher Freestyle Collection is finally getting its release to the public. This year, the patients applied their own creative touches to various silhouettes including the LeBron 19, Dunk Low, Air Jordan 5 Low, Blazer Mid, Nike SB Stefan Janoski, NikeCourt Zoom Vapor Cage 4 and Air Force 1 Fontanka to help tell their personal stories. Every pair will be released through the SNKRS app via draw.
PLEASURES x Dr. Martens
Pleasures
Pleasures
Pleasures
Release Date: April 30
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: Dr. Martens
Why You Should Cop: Dr. Martens has found plenty of success in partnering up with streetwear entities for collaborative footwear projects. In a few days time, the UK footwear company will be reuniting with PLEASURES to debut a new Jorge Mule team-up. PLEASURES’ script branding adorns the top of the uppers and comes complemented with Dr. Martens’ signature yellow stitchings on the midsole.
